A 48-year-old South Amboy man, charged with stabbing four children and killing his female companion, used his cell phone to call police to alert them to the tragedy as the children screamed in the background.

Exactly what Daniel Charron had to say to authorities during his 911 phone call on Dec. 1 has not been disclosed, but attorneys say he was one of two people who contacted police after he allegedly wounded four children with a carving knife and fatally stabbed Myra Morrissey, 38, in their home on Henry Street in South Amboy.

The existence of Charron's phone call to police was revealed after defense attorneys asked a judge in Middlesex County today to block its release, contending public disclosure of the 911 call would violate his right to a fair trial and his right to privacy. Superior Court Judge Frederick DeVesa said he cannot rule on the issue until he hears the recording privately.

In a separate 911 call, an unidentified neighbor told South Amboy police that one of the children arrived at his home, searching for help.

Court records show that South Amboy officers arrived to find Charron on his cell phone talking to the State Police. The South Amboy officers told him to put the phone down, according to the documents.

Charron, who has been charged with one count of murder and four counts of attempted murder, remains in custody at the Middlesex County jail in lieu of $2 million bail. A not-guilty plea has been entered on his behalf. No trial date has been set.

Police have declined to say what prompted the slaying of the woman and the stabbing of the children, two girls, ages 7 and 12, and two boys, aged 9 and 11. The youngsters have been released from hospital care and are recovering from injuries to their torsos, arms and legs, authorities said.

Two of the children are Charron's from a previous marriage and two were Morrissey's offspring. A fifth child was not injured, police said.